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11th March, 2005

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Whatever did the world do before the invention of cones? I don’t mean the kind that you get your ice-cream in. I mean those red-and-white things that seem to pop up like a rash all over the place. You know the way – one day you’re driving along a clear road; the next day you crawl along the same road because two lanes are blocked off by a series of cones, and not a single person or manned machine in sight.

Well, Avenue Hoche has been invaded within the past week. I don’t know whether they came down with the rain earlier in the week, but suddenly they were all over the place. Now, if they had been green instead of red I might have been tempted to think they were preparing for the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day – you know the kind I mean – lepra-cones! But they were definitely red.

People came back to their legitimately parked cars to find them surrounded by cones. And of course people did the expected thing – just drove in or out as if the cones didn’t exist. The next thing, flyers started appearing on car windscreens. At this stage curiosity got the better of me, and I examined one, to find out that an arrangement had been made with the Mairie whereby a film company could block off sections of the street in connection with some filming that was to take place from 7 am on Saturday and throughout the day.

By Friday things were getting more serious – the cones were linked up by means of red-and-white tape, and were being guarded by a security man with “Staff VIP” written across his back. I was beginning to develop a sense of expectancy – who were these VIP film people going to be? Who would I wake up on Saturday to see filming outside my window? A Depardieu, or a Binoche? Maybe they might even be looking for some sophisticated-looking extras? (Must tell Ephrem and Francis to be prepared!)

Imagine my disgust to look out on Saturday morning to find not a sign of a camera, let alone a film star. Just the same old cones and tape, and a solitary van parked within them, watched over by two men with “Staff VIP” written on their backs. And at time of going to press (Saturday afternoon) that’s all the excitement there has been. All that heightened expectation for nothing!

A bit like the guy with the fig tree in today’s Gospel. He felt he had every right to expect it to yield fruit – that’s what a fig tree’s for! Like the man said, if it’s bearing no fruit it’s a waste of space. Get rid of it – make room for a tree that will bear fruit. Hopefully, as our season of Lent proceeds, we are moving into a state of more heightened expectation as we prepare to celebrate the mystery of our redemption. And we know that we won’t be let down by Jesus – ever!

But Jesus also has expectations – expectations that the “new Life” that He has given us would be lived to the full – expectations that we would “bear much fruit” in spreading His Word, above all by our deeds. And that’s the question for us – when last did we bear much fruit? Just how patient do we expect Him to be?

In the meantime….. it’s 3 pm. The cameras have arrived. Gotta Go!

NOTICES 

Lenten project : As announced over the past couple of weeks, our Lenten Project this year is in aid of our two of our Passionist missions. In our mission in Randham, in south-east India, the major need is for education. They have begun work on a new 12 class-room building in the hope that money will come in to finish it. Each 22 x 20 ft classroom costs just under €4000 to build and equip –no luxuries there! It would be a very positive Parish preparation for Easter if we were able to fund a few of these classrooms?

In our mission among the Wichi people in Juarez , Formosa, in the Argentine, the greatest need is for medicines and education. Our missioners have been trying to build small multi-purpose halls in two different villages. They have been lying incomplete for over a year now because of lack of funds – less than €4000 in one case, and €500 in the other. So little could make such a big difference!

The Lenten collection will be taken up after the Communion in each of the masses over the Sundays of Lent. I know we can rely on your usual generosity. (By the way, if you pay French tax, and if you contribute by cheque to “ADP” you can get two-thirds back in tax relief!)

UPDATE: Already just over €12,400 has been contributed to the Project – a magnificent sum, especially as so many of our Parishioners are still on their Winter Break!!

Parish/Home Prayer Day: To date three different groups have organised themselves to participate in the Parish home prayer evening on Wednesday, 14 th March. The idea is, that volunteer parishioners would host an evening in their general region – eg. Paris south-east, western suburbs, etc. The prayer and reflection would be followed by a light potluck supper. We will provide a suggested prayer service, and the participants would provide the potluck meal. It’s not expected that people spend all the time in prayer, and if you happen to get to know your fellow-parishioners and neighbours a little better that’s an additional and welcome bonus! Kindly contact Regan, orillac@aol.com, or ph. 06 13 21 92 65 if you are interested in being involved. If you’re interested, but the date doesn’t suit, don’t let that be an obstacle!

St. Patrick's Day : There will be a special mass on Saturday 17th March, at 12.00 noon. Please note – there will not be the usual 11.00 am. Mass! Refreshments will be served in the Church Hall immediately afterwards.

Mission Lunch Soup Kitchen : St. Joseph's turn to run the Mission Lunch Soup Kitchen at the American Cathedral is Friday March 23rd. New volunteers are needed, please contact Loraine for further information. 0134801110, or lorainesd@wanadoo.fr  Thank you.

Canonisation of Blessed Charles of Mount Argus: As mentioned in the Bulletin last week, this will be taking place in Rome on June 3 rd. As this is a major event for us Passionists of St. Patrick’s Province, there will be pilgrimages organised from many of our foundations. Quite a number of people here have already expressed their interest in attending. As June is a very busy season in Rome, it’s important that we make decisions soon. If you are interested in any way in attending the canonisation, I invite you to a meeting this Sunday, after the 12.30 Mass, at which we can discuss our options. In the meantime, if you have any suggestions, questions, etc. please contact Fr. Pat at frpat@stjoeparis.org or by phone at 01 42 27 28 56.

Parish Social Evening: Unfortunately, owing to many complicating factors, we have had to postpone our Parish Social evening until next October. Apologies to those who had already made plans to attend.

Parish Retreat: We are happy to say that with the amount of positive response, there will definitely be a Parish Retreat Day, open to all parishioners, on Saturday, March 24 th. It will be taking place here on our own premises. Further details will follow later.

CCD: Just a reminder that CCD classes will be resuming this Sunday, 11 th March.

Marriage Course (Wednesday evening): We’ll meet again on 14 March.

Bible Study: at the usual time 10:30 am every Wednesday.

Lectors meeting. There will be a meeting for all our Lectors this Thursday, 15 March at 8 pm.